Chapter 6 - The Offer No Woman Should Accept|
Sadi examined the forged signature until the letters blurred.
It was her old name.
The name she had used before marrying Roman.
The name Trevor had once written on birthday cards, unpaid bills, and apartment applications.
He knew exactly how she signed it.
He knew the little curve she added beneath the final letter.
And someone had copied it onto a document claiming she witnessed Gloria's approval of the property transfer.
"I never signed this."
Gloria looked over her shoulder.
"I know, sweetheart."
Sadi pointed toward the date.
"This was supposedly signed six months ago."
She shook her head.
"I was in Boston with Roman that week."
"Do you have proof?"
Sadi almost smiled.
"Hotel receipts, airline tickets, and about a hundred photographs of him pretending he didn't enjoy the aquarium."
Roman, standing in the doorway, raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't enjoy the aquarium."
"You bought a stuffed penguin."
"For you."
"You named it."
Arthur coughed discreetly to hide his laughter.
For a brief second, the tension eased.
Then Sadi looked at Trevor's name again.
Her expression hardened.
"He knew."
Roman stepped closer.
"About the paperwork?"
"About Harbor House."
She looked up.
"He knew how much this place meant to me."
That was the cruelest part.
Trevor had not merely stolen from a stranger.
He had used something deeply personal against the woman he once claimed to love.
By evening, Sadi had retained Elena Brooks, an attorney known for representing tenants and nonprofit organizations.
Elena was blunt, practical, and completely unimpressed by Roman's reputation.
She reviewed the documents inside Gloria's small office.
"The alleged transfer is suspicious," Elena said.
"But suspicion won't stop an emergency closure order."
"What will?" Sadi asked.
"We challenge the inspection, preserve the evidence, and seek a court order protecting the residents."
She tapped the forged signature.
"And we report this."
Roman leaned against the doorframe.
"Whatever resources you need are available."
Elena looked directly at him.
"I appreciate that, Mr. Voss."
Then she added, "But I represent Harbor House and its residents, not your business interests."
Roman nodded.
"Understood."
Sadi smiled faintly.
She liked Elena already.
The next morning, an envelope arrived at the Voss residence.
It contained a letter from Vale & Cross.
The letter accused Sadi of harassment, defamation, and threatening Trevor's professional reputation.
It also proposed a confidential settlement.
If Sadi agreed to withdraw her police complaint, abandon any challenge to Harbor House's closure, and publicly apologize for the boutique incident, Vale Development would consider funding temporary housing for the displaced residents.
Sadi read the letter twice.
Then she began to laugh.
Roman looked up from his desk.
"What's funny?"
"They're offering to help the people they're trying to make homeless."
His expression turned cold.
"Gerald always enjoyed selling a solution to a problem he created."
At the bottom of the letter was Trevor's signature.
Attached was a handwritten note.
Sadi, be reasonable for once.
You don't belong in Roman Voss's world.
Accept the offer before somebody gets hurt.
Roman read the note.
The atmosphere in the room changed.
He reached for his phone.
Sadi gently covered his hand.
"No."
"Sadi."
"No threats."
"He just threatened you."
"Then we'll show the police."
Roman studied her.
She could see the anger behind his eyes.
She could also see him making a choice.
Slowly, he set down the phone.
"All right."
That afternoon, Sadi organized volunteers to prepare emergency supplies for Harbor House.
Roman arranged for an unused residential property owned by his legitimate holding company to be made available temporarily if the city forced the shelter to evacuate.
Sadi insisted that the shelter retain its own management.
Roman agreed without argument.
They would fight the closure.
But they would not gamble with the residents' safety.
As the volunteers worked, Nina Carter arrived with another troubling piece of news.
Her boutique manager had fired her.
Officially, the reason was poor performance.
Unofficially, she had been warned to stop talking about Trevor Bennett.
Nina tried to smile.
"I guess telling the truth isn't great for retail."
Sadi hugged her.
"You're not alone in this."
Nina's eyes filled with tears.
"That's the first time anybody's said that since yesterday."
That evening, Roman came home carrying a black envelope.
He placed it on the kitchen counter.
Inside was an invitation printed on heavy cream-colored paper.
THE VALE FOUNDATION ANNUAL CHARITY GALA.
A CELEBRATION OF THE NEW WATERFRONT.
The event would take place the following night at the Grand Meridian Hotel.
Gerald Vale himself was hosting.
Sadi read the invitation.
"He's holding a charity gala while evicting a women's shelter."
Roman nodded.
"He plans to announce the redevelopment."
"And the public will applaud him."
"Most likely."
Sadi stared at the elegant lettering.
Then she looked at her husband.
"I want to go."
Roman's expression tightened.
"Gerald is dangerous."
"So is letting him believe nobody will challenge him."
"There will be cameras everywhere."
"Good."
He studied her.
"You understand what you're walking into?"
Sadi thought about Lily.
About Gloria.
About Nina losing her job.
About Trevor's cruel handwritten note.
"Yes."
Then her phone rang.
The caller ID displayed a name she had not expected.
Chloe Vale.
Sadi answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A frightened voice whispered from the other end.
"Please don't hang up."
Sadi glanced at Roman.
Chloe continued.
"I know what my father is planning."
May you like
Her breathing became uneven.
"And I think he's going to kill somebody to make sure it happens."
